UFC Fight Night 78’s Andre Fili done with up-and-comer label

MONTERREY, Mexico – UFC featherweight Andre Fili is a little too experienced to be Team Alpha Male’s next big thing.

At 25, he’s been with the famed team for six years. In the UFC’s octagon, he’s also been around the block a few times, experiencing exhilarating wins and heartbreaking losses with 17 total fights – 4 in the UFC – to his name.

But after a loss in his previous outing, he’s ready to move into another role – that of a contender in the 145-pound division.

“I’ve been the next up for a while, or one of the next up, like with Cody (Garbrand) and Paige VanZant obviously doing big things, and I feel like it’s my turn to show that I belong there as well, too,” Fili told MMAjunkie. “It’s all well and good to say I’m next up, but I’m 25. It’s now. I’m ready to start doing it now.”

Fili (14-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) meets “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” vet Gabriel Benitez (18-4 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on the FOX Sports 1-televised preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 78, which also serves as the finale for “TUF Latin America 2.” The event takes place Saturday at Monterrey Arena in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Check out the above video to get Fili’s thoughts on getting over the recent drama at Team Alpha Male, the loss of UFC bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw, and his desire to fulfill his promise as a longtime TAM member.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 78, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.